Static Graviceptive Functions in Patients With Cervical Dystonia (CD)

January 28, 2012 updated by: Kirsten Elwischger

Experimental Pilot Trial Assessing Static Graviceptive Function in Patients With Cervical Dystonia

The purpose of this experimental pilot study is to test the effect of normalization of the head position on the sense of balance at patients with cervical dystonia under routine botulinum toxin treatment.

Study Overview

Status

Completed

Conditions

Detailed Description

Background:

The pathophysiological mechanism of cervical dystonia remains unclear. Affection of static graviceptive function has been shown in these patients by measuring the Subjective Visual Vertical (SVV). Healthy subjects, tested with voluntary head tilt, would tilt SVV in the opposite direction of the head. (Müller "E" effect), whereas patients with cervical dystonia set SVV close to true upright with a minimal deviation toward head-tilt. The mechanism of this change in otolith activity in patients with cervical dystonia is still unknown. When treated with botulinum toxin, head deviation will be reversed during a period of approximate 6-9 weeks, with a first peak of action after approximate 3 weeks.

Aim

The aim of this study is to investigate the effect of normalization of the head position under routine intramuscular botulinum toxin application in the cervical muscles (screening, 3 weeks and 9 weeks after injection) on static graviceptive function in patients with cervical dystonia.

Rationale

To our knowledge, the effect of botulinum toxin therapy on static otolith function in patients with cervical dystonia has never been evaluated. This study may provide new informations on the neural plasticity of the vestibular system and may contribute to the understanding of pathophysiological mechanisms of cervical dystonia. Accordingly, it may help developing new treatment strategies for this disease.

Primary hypothesis

There is a difference of at least 6 degrees in subjective visual vertical of patients with CD tested in habitual head position at study inclusion and 3 weeks after injection of Botulinum Toxin.

Study design

Subjective visual vertical will be tested in Patients with CD, who are pre-treated with botulinum toxin and show a good treatment response.

Patients SVV will be assessed before routine botulinum toxin injection (on day of injection), 3 and 9 weeks after injection. For control, SVV will be assessed in normal subjects.

SVV assessment

SVV will be performed by the patient and control while sitting upright in a dark room in different head positions, the head is fixed using a head holder.

In CD patients, SVV will be assessed in different head positions:

  1. the habitual head deviation (head deviation will be classified by Tsui score),
  2. head fixed in neutral head position (defined as 0° or no head rotation).
  3. ear deviated 15° and 30° to ipsilateral and contralateral side, respectively, starting at habitual head deviation

SVV in normal subject, with

A) head fixed in neutral position (defined as 0° or no head rotation),

B) ear deviated 30° to the left,

C) ear deviated 30° to the right,

D) ear deviated 15° to the left,

E) ear deviated 15° to the right, will be assessed.

Study Type

Observational

Enrollment (Actual)

45

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Locations

      • Vienna, Austria, 1090
        • Department of Neurology, Medical University of Vienna

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Ages Eligible for Study

18 years to 80 years (Adult, Older Adult)

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Genders Eligible for Study

All

Sampling Method

Non-Probability Sample

Study Population

outpatient botulinum toxin clinic of the department of neurology, medical university of Vienna healthy subjects, residents of vienna

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Idiopathic CD and willing to participate on the study,
  • Isolated laterocollis or laterocollis and torticollis with maximum of 15°rotation
  • Aged 18-80 years,
  • Under routine treatment with botulinum toxin

Exclusion Criteria:

Patients and Control

  • History of vestibular disorders

Patients

  • Torticollis with >15°rotation
  • Secondary CD (structural MRI lesions, Mb. Wilson)
  • Contraindication for intramuscular botulinum toxin therapy: bleeding disorder or anticoagulation therapy

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

Cohorts and Interventions

Group / Cohort
Cervical dystonia

patients suffering from cervical dystonia

under routine botulinum toxin treatment

healthy volunteers
control group

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Subjective visual vertical (SVV), measured in degree (°)
Time Frame: screening
Assessment: sitting upright in dark room, head is fixed using a head holder with a strap and a neck rest covering the occiput and posterior neck. For deviation of head (0°, 15° and 30° to the left and right side), head holder can be rotated about its midpoint. In front of patient (distance of 100 cm) is dim light bar, which can be rotated about its midpoint by means of an electronic motor and a remote control device. Patients adjust bar for parallel alignment with the perceived gravitational vertical. The operator tilts the bar in a random order 18° from the physical vertical.
screening
SVV in degree (°)
Time Frame: 3 weeks after screeening
Assessment: sitting upright in dark room, head is fixed using a head holder with a strap and a neck rest covering the occiput and posterior neck. For deviation of head (0°, 15° and 30° to the left and right side), head holder can be rotated about its midpoint. In front of patient (distance of 100 cm) is dim light bar, which can be rotated about its midpoint by means of an electronic motor and a remote control device. Patients adjust bar for parallel alignment with the perceived gravitational vertical. The operator tilts the bar in a random order 18° from the physical vertical.
3 weeks after screeening
SVV in degree (°)
Time Frame: 9 weeks after screening
Assessment: sitting upright in dark room, head is fixed using a head holder with a strap and a neck rest covering the occiput and posterior neck. For deviation of head (0°, 15° and 30° to the left and right side), head holder can be rotated about its midpoint. In front of patient (distance of 100 cm) is dim light bar, which can be rotated about its midpoint by means of an electronic motor and a remote control device. Patients adjust bar for parallel alignment with the perceived gravitational vertical. The operator tilts the bar in a random order 18° from the physical vertical.
9 weeks after screening

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Degree of head deviation (°)
Time Frame: screening
head deviation of patients group in relaxed posture, measured in degrees (°)
screening
degree of head deviation (°)
Time Frame: 3 weeks after screening
head deviation of patients group in relaxed posture, measured in degrees (°)
3 weeks after screening
degree of head deviation (°)
Time Frame: 9 weeks after screening
head deviation of patients group in relaxed posture, measured in degrees (°)
9 weeks after screening

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Publications and helpful links

The person responsible for entering information about the study voluntarily provides these publications. These may be about anything related to the study.

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start

June 1, 2010

Primary Completion (Actual)

January 1, 2012

Study Completion (Actual)

January 1, 2012

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

July 14, 2010

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

August 11, 2010

First Posted (Estimate)

August 12, 2010

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Estimate)

January 31, 2012

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

January 28, 2012

Last Verified

January 1, 2012

More Information

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

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